The Ming Dynasty's Five Hundred Years

Chapter 147 Dominating the Southeast, the War Never Ends
Southern Zhili, Yingtian Prefecture.

It was the time between spring and summer, and the scenery in Jiangnan was breathtaking.

Along the Qinhuai River, which stretches for eight hundred miles, the spring waters are warm, painted boats glide on the waves, and the fragrance of cosmetics wafts over Zijin Mountain, where verdant hills rise and fall.

A scene of idyllic peace and prosperity.

While the common people were illustrious, a sense of panic and oppression permeated the officialdom and among scholars. It was like leaden clouds hanging low, dark clouds pressing down on the city, and a storm brewing. People were filled with anxiety, as if the sky were about to collapse and the earth were about to crumble!

Why?

The sorcery case that shocked the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty originated in the Jiangnan region and even implicated the Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, the heir apparent, was personally "invited" back to the capital by the fierce and ruthless Imperial Guards in front of a group of high-ranking civil and military officials from Jiangnan!
At that time, it truly shook the court and the public, and drew the attention of the entire nation.

How can I not be terrified?

How can I not be anxious?

Throughout Jiangnan, from high-ranking officials to lowly clerks, from aristocratic families to impoverished scholars, everyone trembled with fear.

The word "sorcery" is enough to make one restless and unable to eat or sleep!
Only when news came from the capital that the Crown Prince was out of danger did the people of Jiangnan finally breathe a long, trembling sigh of relief, like drowning people grabbing onto a piece of driftwood.

However, the news that followed made people worry again: officials in various provinces of the Ming Dynasty had deceived the emperor, who was furious and ordered high-ranking officials to inspect the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty to investigate the matter of sorcery.

In the Jiangnan region, another wave of lamentations swept across the land.
The words "sorcery" that had just dissipated once again became a sharp sword hanging over the heads of officials and gentry in Jiangnan, gleaming coldly, ready to fall at any moment.

The banks of the Qinhuai River, once a place of revelry and feasting, now seem shrouded in gloom.

In teahouses, restaurants, and private residences, even the Jiangnan scholars, who usually loved to engage in lively discussions, were now lowering their voices.

Fear spread silently like a plague, eroding the very marrow of Jiangnan.

Who doesn't know that behind the four words "Governor of Jiangnan" lies another bloody storm?
This means that countless official hats will fall from grace, and countless heads will be hung at the city gates!
The prosperous and gentle Jiangnan region is about to be transformed into a battlefield of officialdom in the blink of an eye.

In particular, the governor who came to Jiangnan this time was Li Xianmu, the son of the late Li Zhongwen!

His father, Li Zhongwen, was known for his upright methods and ruthless actions when he was in charge of rectifying official corruption and investigating major cases in Jiangnan. His actions terrified many corrupt officials and remain a persistent nightmare for the Jiangnan officialdom to this day.

One man's power over Jiangnan was immense, and he fabricated two major cases.

The Dongming Academy was reduced to ashes, and all the schools in eastern Zhejiang bowed down in submission. It became a saint in the human world, suppressing the scholars of Jiangnan to the point of no return.

Now that the emperor has sent Li Xianmu, isn't the emperor's intention to intimidate everyone obvious?
“Sending this man here, is the court and His Majesty deliberately making things difficult for Jiangnan?” A retired official sighed, slamming his fist on the table in his private residence. “Jiangnan, the vast land of Confucian scholars, the place where the sages’ cultural lineage is rooted, is about to suffer another calamity!”

These pessimistic remarks resonated with many, who all sighed deeply.

However, some people had a different opinion and sternly rebuked him, saying, "Although Li Zhongwen was strict back then, he was fair and impartial in enforcing the law. I have never heard of him deliberately framing anyone."

His son, Li Xianmu, though young, has been known for his uprightness and integrity since entering officialdom.

Li Zhongwen once said that he was simply following the right path, and that his heart was pure and bright, so what more could he say? All of this was a way to practice the way of the sages.

If you maintain a pure and upright character, what is there to fear?
It's absurd to have a guilty conscience and then shift the blame onto others!

Li Qi already had a group of supporters in Jiangnan; otherwise, Li Xianmu would not have agreed to let Wang Gen go to Jiangnan to die.

“That’s exactly right!” another person chimed in, speaking up for Li Xianmu. “Have you all forgotten Wang Gen? He was from Jiangxi, and wasn’t he Li Zhongwen’s only disciple during his lifetime?”
This clearly demonstrates that Li Zhongwen had no bias towards any particular faction or region, promoting only the talented and virtuous! On the contrary, some people harbor ulterior motives, readily believing rumors and needlessly disturbing the peace!

Completely opposite views emerged, almost like two opposing forces clashing, and a fierce argument immediately ensued.

"You are too naive. Times have changed!"
Li Zhongwen was a sage. If it were Li Zhongwen who came to Jiangnan this time, I would naturally not be worried. But Li Xianmu is not Li Zhongwen.

He was the emperor's nephew and a close minister, and the only person in the entire country to hold the position of governor of three provinces.

I am certain that his journey south is on imperial orders.

Jiangnan is the place where the major case of sorcery originated, and we are the first to be implicated. Even if this is just nonsense from the ignorant masses and we have not participated, who can escape the charges of "negligence" and "inadequate supervision"?
Li Xianmu is His Majesty's trusted close advisor. He associates with imperial relatives such as the Crown Prince and the Prince of Han. He resides in the Grand Secretariat and is familiar with all the affairs of the world. He only has eyes for the awe-inspiring imperial will and the vast imperial power. He is the most ambitious but incompetent. How could he possibly understand the difficulties of the officials in Jiangnan?

Why would they make an exception for us?
If we are not used as scapegoats to establish authority, how can we explain this to His Majesty?
Having spent my entire life navigating the officialdom, I've seen it all before. How dare you brats offer your opinions!

This stern and impassioned statement immediately silenced the room; indeed, there are far too many such instances in the annals of history.

But soon a young official stood up and said with conviction, "Indeed, what the elders say makes some sense."

However, I once met Li Xianmu in the Hanlin Academy, and he always took Li Zhongwen Gong's style as his guide.

The sorcery is completely fabricated. As long as we are innocent, he has no reason to frame us!
Moreover, the imperial court has strict laws and regulations. As he is on imperial tours, he must be careful about the impact and not allow himself to be falsely accused.
The elder's words were far too alarmist.

"Laws and regulations?"
What is the law?

That is the law of the royal family!
The matter of sorcery is indeed completely fictitious, even utterly ridiculous. I presume His Majesty is already aware of this, yet he still convicted us of a grave crime of deceiving His Majesty.

This is simply His Majesty feeling that his dignity has been violated, so he is using this opportunity to suppress others.

Faced with the overwhelming power of the emperor and the imperial envoy, the law was nothing more than a piece of paper.

Li Xianmu achieved early success and was full of vigor. He also carried the prestige of his father and the expectations of His Majesty. Since entering the court, he has always strived to be the first in everything and has made one achievement after another.

The greater the prestige.

He is truly a first-rate person.

People who are ambitious and accomplished like this are most fond of spectacular achievements.

In his eyes, Jiangnan, deeply entangled in sorcery, was merely a sacrificial lamb, a stepping stone to establish his authority!

It must be said that this person's analysis of Li Xianmu was quite reasonable and well-founded, and although his words were full of pessimism, they still contained a sense of praise.

"This is alarmist!"

Jiangnan is a vital region for the nation's finances and the foundation of the imperial court. How could Your Majesty allow Li Xianmu to act recklessly?

Such debates could be heard everywhere, from the imposing offices of the Six Ministries in Nanjing to the halls of the provincial administration commissioners and the official residences of prefectures, states, and counties.

Among scholars, the discussions were as turbulent as a tidal wave.

The entire officialdom in Jiangnan presented a strange and tense scene—beneath the surface calm, magma was boiling violently and surging undercurrents.

Everyone was eager to peek into Li Xianmu's thoughts and predict where his blade would be pointed. Various voices intertwined and collided, forming an invisible and enormous net that enveloped Jiangnan.

But when the ship bearing the banner of "Governor of Jiangnan, Li" actually docked on the Yangtze River, the entire Jiangnan region fell silent!
……

The Yangtze River flows mightily, the Grand Canal is wide open, and the waters stretch for thousands of miles.

As the core of Jiangnan and one of the two capitals of the Ming Dynasty, the Yangtze River was filled with the sight of thousands of sails racing almost every day.

The once bustling Nanjing wharf, teeming with grain shipments and lively crowds, was now completely cleared of all irrelevant personnel, with guards posted every three steps and sentries every five, under tight security.

Led by the ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries in Nanjing, followed by the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture and his subordinate officials, then came the provincial governors and other high-ranking officials from various provinces in Jiangnan. Further back were the prominent and wealthy gentry and celebrities from Jiangnan. It can be said that almost all the top figures in Jiangnan gathered here, holding their breath and waiting for the arrival of the Jiangnan governor who would determine the fate of countless people.

"They're here! Look at those flags!"

Someone let out a soft exclamation, and everyone's eyes instantly focused on the center of the river.

At the mouth of the canal where it meets the river, a large fleet of ships came cutting through the waves.

Leading the way were several large warships, their brightly armored soldiers standing at attention with spears, exuding a chilling aura. Closely following behind was the most eye-catching three-story ship, tall and majestic, with carved beams and painted rafters. As it sailed on the river, it resembled a mobile fortress, a lurking behemoth, possessing an imposing and awe-inspiring presence.

On the mast at the bow of the ship, a large apricot-yellow flag, over ten feet tall, fluttered in the wind, bearing five powerful characters: "Li, Governor of Jiangnan"!
"What a magnificent sight! What imposing presence!" On the dock, countless officials looked up at the approaching behemoth, their hearts filled with awe, and they sighed softly.

The fleet slowly approached, with the escort vessels arriving first.

What's puzzling is that after the ship docked, no one disembarked. The Jiangnan civil and military officials, who had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the imperial envoy, were dumbfounded. Time ticked by in the suffocating wait. The ship had finally come to a safe stop, the gangplank had been lowered, but the figure of Jiangnan Governor Li Xianmu was nowhere to be seen.

All the civil and military officials in Jiangnan, regardless of rank, stood respectfully with their hands at their sides under the scorching early summer sun, sweating profusely. Those who were physically weak felt dizzy and their legs ached, secretly complaining in their hearts.

By this time, no one could have guessed that this was a deliberate act by the governor of Jiangnan.

……

In stark contrast to the sweltering heat on the dock, the cabin was cool and tranquil.

Li Xianmu, dressed in a brand-new scarlet peacock-patterned fourth-rank civil official's robe with a jade belt around his waist, sat calmly on a rosewood armchair. On the small mahogany table in front of him, a pot of fine pre-Qingming Longjing tea was steaming with a delicate fragrance.

With slender fingers holding a thin-walled white porcelain cup, she savored the mellow sweetness and slight astringency of the tea, her expression serene.

The large group of high-ranking officials from Jiangnan on the docks outside seemed like nothing more than insignificant people.

Several people stood beside him, including court officials who had accompanied him, a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard who had defected to him after Ji Gang's death, and a military officer sent by his father-in-law, Zhang Fu.

In short, most of them are our own people.

Everyone held their breath, stood at attention with their hands at their sides, and the atmosphere in the cabin was so heavy that you could hear a pin drop.

The deputy envoy, who was inspecting Jiangnan this time, secretly glanced at the crowds of people at the dock outside the window several times, and carefully observed Li Xianmu's expression, his lips trembling as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

"Governor Li..."

He felt that leaving Jiangnan's civil and military officials hanging like this was really offending people.

Li Xianmu simply waved his hand, interrupting him.

After a long while, when the cup of tea was almost finished, Li Xianmu finally put down the teacup with a barely audible sound.

"Have all the civil and military officials from Jiangnan arrived?" Li Xianmu's voice was not loud, and his tone was calm, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power.

It was as if a silver bottle had suddenly shattered, piercing the stagnant air.

A heavy sigh of relief filled the cabin, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.

"Reporting to the Ambassador."

The deputy envoy quickly bowed and answered cautiously, "The officials of the six ministries in Nanjing, including the Minister of Rites, have sent people to board the ship three times to inquire about your disembarkation time, Your Excellency. The provincial governors, provincial judges, military commanders, and the main officials of Yingtian Prefecture and other prefectures in Jiangnan have all been waiting at the dock for a long time, and their attitude is... extremely respectful and humble."

That's a bit of an exaggeration. Although Li Xianmu's trip was grand and impressive, it was far from enough to make all the regional officials respectful and humble.

What the civil and military officials in Jiangnan feared was the imperial power that would come to punish them!

Li Xianmu slowly rose, walked to the porthole, and glanced through the window at the figures on the dock, drenched in sweat and swaying precariously under the scorching sun. He said calmly:

"You are all mistaken."

My mission on this occasion is merely to inspect the realm on behalf of Heaven and to carry out official business as ordered.

How could I allow the second and third-rank officials of the Six Ministries in Nanjing, as well as the first and second-rank officials in the local areas, to treat me with the courtesy of 'humility'?
Isn't this a complete reversal of order and disorder? I am young and of low rank, unworthy of such praise and responsibility. If word gets out…”

His voice remained calm, but the weight of his words sent a chill down the spines of everyone in the cabin.

"Yes! I misspoke! I was foolish!" The official who had just spoken turned pale instantly, cold sweat pouring down his face. He hurriedly bowed and apologized, and the others beside him also bowed quickly: "We were too talkative! The governor is right to reprimand us!"

Cold sweat poured down his back, and he was quite annoyed. He had meant to flatter, but he hadn't expected to have offended the horse.

This son of Li Zhongwen was a completely different person from the legendary Li Zhongwen.

Li Xianmu ignored his subordinates' panic and kept his gaze fixed on the window, as if admiring an interesting painting.

"It's about time. Let's get ready to disembark. My fellow Jiangnan folks, you've all been living a life of luxury and ease in Yangzhou and the Qinhuai River, and your bodies must be quite delicate."

If someone stands under this scorching sun for too long and catches heatstroke, and a few of them fall ill, then if word gets out, it will seem as if I, the official, am mistreating my colleagues.

His words, laced with sarcasm and irony, left everyone speechless with embarrassment.

"Yes, sir!" The people in the cabin responded as if they had been granted a pardon, and immediately dispersed like a tide.

Even the usually arrogant and fearsome officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard appeared unusually efficient and respectful at this moment, quickly leaving the cabin to set up a guard post.

Being by the side of this imperial envoy, the invisible pressure was so heavy that even these proud and fierce soldiers, who were known as the "Emperor's Hounds and Hounds," could hardly breathe.

After all, this man was quite capable of throwing a Jinyiwei centurion who was slightly negligent due to his status directly into the Grand Canal to "wake him up"!

The bloody end of Commander Ji Gang was still fresh in everyone's mind. Who would dare to provoke this governor, who was deeply favored by the emperor and held the power of life and death, at this time?
……

Only Li Xianmu and the deputy envoy remained in the cabin. The deputy envoy couldn't help but whisper, "The governor just now..."

But was it intentional to suppress the arrogance of these high-ranking officials in Jiangnan?
"I observed that they had been waiting patiently under the scorching sun for a long time. Although they appeared exhausted, not one of them dared to act rashly. They must have shown great respect for the Governor."

"Awe?" Li Xianmu scoffed, his voice carrying a hint of cold amusement. "What do I have to be awe-inspiring about? Neither Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet nor Junior Chamberlain of the Crown Prince's Palace are worthy of their attention."

They feared the supreme imperial power because they were guilty!

Li Xianmu's gaze was intense, sharp and clear, like a sword, which made him lower his head deeply.

"Coming with the power and influence of the emperor, it is certainly possible to make these people bow down and be in awe for a time."

However, in the deeply entrenched and complex Jiangnan region, this respect for imperial power two thousand miles away is far from sufficient to truly accomplish the major tasks entrusted to him by His Majesty.

Only by making them truly fear, respect, and even trust and rely on me can we accomplish great things!

After all, Li Xianmu's trip south was just a pretext for his sorcery; his real purpose was to obtain grain from Jiangnan, both for the capital and for the southern expeditionary army, aiming to collect at least 30% more!

These can only be paid for by wealthy families; ordinary people can't afford them.

This is the most difficult thing.

The civil and military officials in Jiangnan had been exposed to the scorching sun for half an hour. Sweat soaked through their heavy official robes, which clung to their bodies, making them feel sticky and uncomfortable.

Many people felt dizzy and lightheaded, and some even felt weak in their legs and feet, almost fainting. Everyone secretly complained and resentment accumulated silently.

"This is clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult! A show of force!"

"Need I say more? What could possibly be so important that we'd be stuck in the cabin for so long? They just want us to suffer under this scorching sun!"

"Hmph! A mere brat, having gained power once, dares to humiliate the entire Jiangnan officialdom like this! He is utterly arrogant!"

"When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Today he's using his power to bully others, all high and mighty. Let's see how long he can be so smug! The political arena is ever-changing, and fortunes will turn eventually..."

Soft complaints, curses, sighs, and self-consolation hummed like mosquitoes in the ranks of officials.

"Aren't the officials in charge of the Six Ministries going to urge them?"

"This second-rank official has no backbone at all; he's practically a clay sculpture."

The ministers of the six ministries in Nanjing, standing at the forefront, felt as if they were being pricked by countless expectant, urging, or resentful gazes from behind.

They have sent people to board the ship several times to urge them, adopting an extremely humble attitude, but what can they do?
Could we possibly send men to rush up and tie up the imperial envoy?

Just as this anxiety and resentment were about to reach their peak, there was finally movement on the deck of the ship!

First, squads of fully armed soldiers filed off the escort ships and quickly deployed defenses at the dock and surrounding key roads.

(End of this chapter)